Joint



Jan. 5, 1937. n R. F.PEO 2,066,695

' JOINT Filed'Julyzzs, 1954 FEMP/EF EaZ/ Peb.

IEN.

Patented `an. 5, 1937 PATE OFFICE JOINT Ralph F. Peo, Buffalo, N. Y., assigner to Houde Engineering Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 23, 1934, Serial No. 736,493

- n Y 4 Claims.

This invention has to do with joints and is concerned more particularly with oscillatory joints for use in connection with shock absorbers and the like.

5 It is an object of the invention to provide an improved connection between an oscillating shaft such vas the rock shaft of a shock absorber and a connecting rod adapted to be connected to a movable device such as an axle or automobile wheel supporting member, so as to occupy a minimumof space transversely.

i. Itis another object of the invention to provide an `improved-joint `between the rock shaft lever and the connecting rod by means of which the use of a lever of substantially lighter construction than has `heretofore been feasible is made possible.

A further object of the; invention resides in the provision of a joint of this character embodying a ball member constructed and arranged to `be connected on opposite sides thereof to the oscillating shaftlever.

Another object of the invention resides in th provision of a combination forked joint between the connecting rod and rock shaft lever embodying both metallic and relatively soft non-metallic means forV affording the desired universal movement between the rod and the lever.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, there is provided a preferably tubular drag link or connecting rod member formed of generally semi-cylindrical parts providing a housing. The joint mechanism comprises a ball member resiliently trunnioned in the housing, diametrically `opposed bearing members .engaging the ball member, means resiliently pressing the members together, and an adjusting means for varying the spring pressure. rThe rock shaft leveris formedasa fork at one end providing 40. arms between which is` mounted the ball member. 'The parts are arranged to compress the resilient means, which serves as an anti-rattling means and as a sealbetween the ball member and the housing.

'I'he lever is formed of sheet metal straps suitably `united in laminated form and oppositely bossed atV the end opposite the fork and provided with serrations extending throughout the combined length of the bossed portions for connection to the' rock shaft of a shock absorber such as aY double-acting. shock absorber.

Further objects and advantages of the invention-will. `appear asthe description proceeds.

55.; .l'lhe invention (in` a preferred.V form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully Y described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an assembly embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper part of Figure 1, certain parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken substantially in the plane designated by the line III- III in Figure 1, the pivot element 10i being shown for convenience in elevation.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially in the plane designated by the line IV--IV in Figure 3. i

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan View of the lower 15 bearing seat shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the drag link, taken substantially inthe plane designated by the lineVI-VI in Figure 3.

As shown on the drawing: 20

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the lever l, provided to establish a connection between' the rock shaft of a double-acting shock absorber (not shown) and a connecting r'od or drag link, is preferably formed of sheet 25` metal Comprising substantially identical elongated pieces 2 which are united throughout preferably the major portions of their lengths as by spot welding 3. If desired, however, the pieces 2 may be united by bolts, rivets or any other suit- 30 l able means. The pieces 2 are preferably wider at one end than at the other and, at the'wider end, each is provided with a preferably cylindrical boss d. When the pieces 2 are assembledas described above, the bosses l are coaXially aligned 35 and extend away from each other. A circularl series of longitudinal serrations 5 is formed in the generally cylindrical hub formed by the bosses Yof the pieces 2, the length of the serrations being thus substantially greater than the thickness of 40 the sheet metal so as to enable the serrations to properly transmit stresses to the rock shaft (not shown) fromv the lever i.

At their opposite and narrower ends, the pieces 2 are bent apart and bent again in substantial 45 parallelism to provide a fork 6 having generally parallel arms or prongs l. This fork structure forms an essential part of the forked joint about to be described.

The link 8 is preferably hollow for the purpose 50` of lightness without sacrificing strength. It may be formed in various ways but preferably comprises a pair of generally semi-cylindrical elongated elements 8m, each having an endV portion of increased diameter as shown at 91 The ele- 55 675*- the interior of the housing I I.

ments 8a are substantially identical and formed to be mated at their edges as shown by the lines I8, where they are welded together to provide a tubular structure having an enlarged end portion II providing a shoulder I2. Portions of the elements 8a along the edges thereof are preferably out away as at I3, affording longitudinal spaces between welded edge portions of the elements 8a.

Each element 8a in its enlarged portion 9 is 10 formed with a transversely arranged cylindrical portion symmetrical with and at right angles to the axis of the element. The shape of the portion 9 at this point will be understood as that of a hollow semi-cylinder joined to a right angularly related cylinder, with the free circular edge of the latter terminating flush with an element on the outer surface of the semi-cylindrical portion. When the elements 8a are joined as described above or in any other suitable manner as by bolts, rivets or the like, the said cylindrical portions, which are in effect bosses, are preferably arranged coaxially as at I4 in Figures 2 and 4.

The enlarged portion or housing II of the link 8 is interiorly threaded at its free end as shown s at I5, and tongues I6 are formed at the ends of the respective portions 9, between the kerfs Il. The tongues I6 when formed do not project into the interior of the enlargement I I, but are forced inward only for the purpose of holding the parts Bpfin properly assembled relation as will appear 4,()4 abutment for the spring I9 and for that purpose may be provided with a flat face on one side.

The bearing member 20 is formed on its opposite side with a part-spherical surface 2| provided with a transverse groove 22 and a central hole 23 com- 45 municating therewith so as to afford access of grease or other lubricant to the part-spherical surface. The bearing member 20 is preferably circular as is also the housing II and is dimensioned to fit slidably within the housing so as to 5() cooperate therewith telescopically.

For cooperation with the bearing member 20 and another like bearing member, there is provided a ball piece 24 in the form of a sleeve having a cylindrical bore 25 and provided with end por- 5 5V tions in the form of trunnions 26 and an intermediate spherical portion 2'I of substantially the same curvature as the part-spherical surface 2I on the bearing member 2l). Rubber, leather or the like flexible grommets or rings 28 are fitted preferably tightly about the trunnions 26 and are normally of a diameter to t in the cylindrical portions I4. 'I'he diameter of the ball portion 21 is such as to enable the same readily to pass through either of the cylindrical portions I4 into When this is done, it is necessary to press the bearing member 20 and consequently the spring I9 toward the disc I8, the spring I 9 readily permitting such pressure. The grommets 28, when fitted in the cylindrical 70,portions I4 and about the sleeve trunnions 26,

serve by virtue of their cooperation with the housing II to hold the disc I8, spring I9, bearing member 28 and ball member 24 in proper cooperative and assembled relation as shown in 75 Figure 3. Viewing Figure 3, it will be understood that with the parts thus far assembled, the rings 28 will be disposed slightly outward of the positions shown in that figure, since said rings are normally preferably at on both sides.

A second and substantially identical bearing member 20a is located adjacent the threaded end of the housing I I so that its part spherical surface engages the spherical portion ofthe ball piece 24 opposite the bearing member 20. A plug 29 is threaded into the housing II and against the bearing member 20a so as to hold the latter in proper engagement with the ball piece 24, leaving the latter, however, in substantially coaxial relation to the cylindrical portions I4. 'I'he plug 29 is provided with slots or kerfs 30 which, when the plug 29 is threaded home, are arranged to receive the tongues I6, which are thereupon bent into two of the kerfs 39 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Four equally spaced' kerfs 30 are shown on the member 29, to provide for close adjustment. ItV will be appreciated that any desired number of such kerfs may be provided to obtain the desired degree of adjustment of the plug 29. After the tongues I6 4are bent into position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the plug 29 is locked against turning and accordingly cannot be withdrawn.

The plug 29 is tapped at 3I for the reception of a suitable lubricating fitting.

With the parts thus assembled, the fork arms I are arranged so as to straddle the housing Il.

In order to place the arms 'I against the ends of the ball piece 24, it is necessary for said arms 'I to compress the sleeves 28. The bearing members 20 and 20a adjacent their part-spherical surfaces are substantially frusto-conical as shown at 32. These frusto-conical surfaces engage the inner margins of the iiexible rings 28 and cause the portions of the flexible rings engaged thereby to be tapered as shown in Figure 3. The rings, being compressed on the one hand between the fork arms I and bearing members 20 and 20a, and on the other hand between the trunnions 26 and the cylindrical portions I4, form yieldablc. connections between the respective parts and at the same time prevent escape of lubricant and entry of dust and other foreign matter. The rings 28 are preferably formed of a material which is not deteriorated by oil, grease and the like.

With the fork arms 'I pressed against the ends of the trunnions 26 and the rings 28, a connectl ing element, which is herein illustrated in the form of a rivet or like member 33, is passed through registering openings 34 in the fork arms 'I and through the ball piece 24, and the ends of said member 33 are headed to provide a unitary end assembly. 'Ihe openings 34 are countersunk and the ends of the element 33 are headed so as to t in the countersunk portions, thereby permanently securing the arms I in assembled relation to the other parts. Relative surface movement between the parts thus takes place at the bearing surfaces between the seat members 20 and 20a and the ball portion 24. The length of the ball piece 24 is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the housing II so as to cause the arms 'I when properly assembled therewith to be spaced slightly from the housing II, to permit relative movement between the housing I I Iand the fork arms 1, and consequently between the link 8 and the lever I, in different planes.

The other end 35 of the link 8 may be formed in any suitable manner as by flattening the corresponding ends of the parts 8a to provide a fork having arms 36 pivoted at 31 to an eye 38 of an 75 eye bolt 39 by means of a snug fitting rubber sleeve 40 fitted between the arms 38 and the eye 38 and between the pivot element 31 and the eye 38. Any other suitable connection at the end 35 of the link y8 may be provided, and while the eye bolt 39 is shown as extending in substantially the same plane as that of the link 8 and lever I, and in the same direction as the lever I relative to the link 8, it could be arranged to extend in any other direction relative to the link 8 and lever` I. Likewise, any other suitable connection may be provided between the eye bolt 39 and' the link 8, for connection of the link 8 to a movable device such as an axle or automobile wheel supporting member.

The bearing members 20 may be of any suitable material such as phosphor bronze. The rings 28 are preferably resilient and are preferably formed of rubber or of a composition whose major ingredient is rubber, or of leather or leather composition.

It will be observed that the joint between the link 8 and lever I is rather compact and takes up a minimum of space transversely. 'Ihis is highly desirable especially in connection with automobiles of recent design which, due to the :widening of the frame in order to afford a wider spring support at the rear end and to avoid tilting of the car on rounding corners and the like, entails a substantial reduction in the clearance heretofore existing between the frame and the brake housing. The joint structure afforded by the present invention not only is capable of employment notwithstanding this reduced clearance, but is of such a character as to permit the use of a rock shaft lever of substanti-ally lighter construction because of the forked connection rather than the cantilever type of drag link connection.

When the mechanism forming the joint between the link 8v and lever I is assembled, the same constitutes a unit which is complete in itself, permanent, affords proper articulation between the connected members, and requires attention only for the addition of lubricant.

'Ihe built up sheet metal lever construction may be manufactured at less cost than forged, cast or other levers and yet provides a hub of suficient lengthl to transmit stresses from the drag link to the rock shaft, and is of sumcient strength to enable the same to withstand stresses tending to bend the lever transversely of itself about the rock shaft.

In order to insure against leakage of oil from the housing into the reduced part -of the link, a gasket I8a. of paper, rubber or other suitable material is arranged under the disc I8 so as to be compressed between said disc and the shoulder I2.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a joint, a housing having intersecting cylindrical walls providing an axial and a transverse bore, a bearing assembly within said bores including a member having ends extending freely through the transverse bore, resilient grommets surrounding said extended ends and in complete annular contact with the wall of said transverse bore, and a member having a bifurcated end connected to said extended ends and in contact with said grommets to confine said grommets in place to seal said transverse bore while permitting relative angular movement between said housing and said connected member.

2. In a joint including a pair of articulated members having relative pivotal and angular movement, one of said members having an end housing formed with intersecting cylindrical walls forming an axial and a transverse bore, the other of said members having a forked end to receive said housing, a bearing assembly in said bores with cylindrical ends extending freely through said transverse bore and connected to said forked end, and resilient grommets surrounding said extended ends and in contact therewith and with the inner surfaces of said forked ends and with fully cylindrical wall portions of said transverse bore to seal said bore and permit relative angular movement between said articulated members by deformation of said grommets.

3. In a joint including a, pair of articulated members having relative pivotal and angular movement, one of said members having an end housing formed with intersectingY cylindrical walls forming an axial and a transverse bore, the other of said members having a forked end to receive said housing, a segmental spherical bearing member having trunnions extending freely through said transverse bore and conected to said forked end, bearing seats in said axial bore, means constantly urging said seats into bearing engagement with said spherical bearing member, and resilient grommets surrounding said extended ends and in contact therewith and with the inner surfaces of said forked ends and with fully cylindrical wall portions of said transverse bore to seal said bore and permit relative angular movement between said articulated members by deformation of said grommets.

4. In a joint, a member having an end housing, a second member having a forked end for receiving said housing, said housing having a transverse cylindrical bore, a bearing assembly in said housing including a segmental spherical member having trunnions extending freely through said bore and connected to said forked end, and resilient annular grommets surrounding said trunnions and in full cylindrical surface contact with the wall of said bore and in surface contact with said forked ends and held under compression thereby to seal said bore during relative angular movement of said members.

RALPH F. PEO. 

